Seeking Inspirato with Tarlee Smit

THE BASICS

Name Tarlee
Location Victoria, Australia
Works as a Retail manager
Age 39
Style belief “Be your authentic self. Always 💛”
Instagram @tarleemae

Image courtesy of americanhistory.si.edu

The Year Is 1943

Rosie the Riveter makes her debut on the iconic “We Can Do It” poster.

Bette Davis is on the silver screen starring as Sara Muller in Watch on the Rhine.

Duke Ellington plays at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the first time.

Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other leaders of the Allied Forces meet in Morocco for the Casablanca Conference to plan the next phase of World War II.

2 Extremes in 1 Decade

We’re talking about the 1940s because our feature today, Tarlee, is in love with the 40s aesthetic. She is a 1940s girl through and through. Her tagline on her Instagram is “Born in the wrong era. Wake me when it’s 1939 🎡”

The 1940s was an interesting time for women’s clothing. The external forces of wartime frugality defined the early years, while a stylized feminine silhouette marked a return to peacetime. In the same decade, the style changed more dramatically than in perhaps any other.

In the early 40s, the world was so resource-strapped that women were literally tailoring their husbands’ clothing to fit them. And with more women entering the workforce than ever before, ladies’ fashion took on a more masculine look.

Contrast this with Christian Dior’s 1947 debut of the swanky “New Look,”which re-introduced the use of full, feminine skirts with cinched waists.

From famine to feast in little time.

Desperate Times Invite Creative Measures

We can thank the regulations passed by the War Production Board in 1942 for giving us the bikini, shorter dresses, tailored men's clothing for women, hats (not as regulated during the war), the atomic print, the hourglass shape, shoulder pads, and so much more.

“The shortage of fabric also caused the popularity of the two-piece suit known as a Victory or Utility suit. Women could mix and match skirts, blouses, and jackets for a new outfit every day. Even after the war, the suit remained popular due to its comfort and practicality” (vintagedancer.com).

Someone had to wear the pants.

From a style perspective, there is a certain romance attached to this time in history. Clothing was a point of pride for women. Dressing “smart” with limited resources was considered patriotic.

Tarlee takes some of the most beautiful moments from this decade and transports them into today. Scrolling through her Instagram is like waking up in the past. All of her posts feature her in authentic 1940s attire. Even the background colors and filters feel vintage.

I got to know Tarlee over email after finding her on Instagram. I asked her to tell us about her love for 1940s fashion in addition to what this love for clothing does for her self-confidence.

What does style mean to you? What does confidence mean to you? How do you feel the two work together?

“Style to me means not following what everyone else is wearing. It’s standing out from the crowd and feeling confident enough not to mind when others stare. Dressing the way I dress (wearing clothes that are at least 70 years old) I definitely have to feel confident and proud. I have never had any negativity, but sometimes I’ve walked past tables in cafés and the stares happen, haha! I know it’s only because people don’t see that kind of outfit or style of dress everyday 😊I don’t take offence to it at all, it’s just a different style to everyone else ☺️”

How would you describe your style?

“My style is from the 1940s. I’d say nearly all the pieces I own are original pieces. I love the style from back then. I love how elegant the 1940s outfits looked.”

How would you describe your favorite look?

“My favourite look is when I pin curl my hair the night before, so I can complete the whole 1940s look.”

How would you describe your favorite outfit, the one that brings you ultimate confidence?

“I love so many outfits! I have many original 1940’s rayon dresses and a few high-waisted, satin wide- legged pants that I pair with a cute 1940s top. And of course, always a great red lipstick to complete the classic 1940s look.”

When did you feel like you first got comfortable with your personal style?

“I think I’ve always been comfortable with my personal style. Original 1940s clothing is such a passion of mine, so when l love something so much, I want to be proud wearing it. I work full time, and my job doesn’t allow me to wear vintage. So when it’s my day off, I go all out 1940s! I guess some people think I’m ‘dressed up,’ but to me, I’m just wearing what I love ☺️ My partner even knows how happy I get when I have a day off work, so I can put on a vintage outfit and feel like myself for the day.”

Do you have any personal stories or memories about what clothing means to you? What style means to you? Perhaps a "style icon" in your life who inspires you?

“I can honestly say my style icons are all the ladies I see in old photos from the 1940s. I have a collection of photos I’ve purchased from vintage markets and I love looking through them and seeing them dressed in their outfits, standing so proud and happy.”

“I also love these vintage pieces because of where they may have come from and the stories behind them. I’d like to think that a lady had one of her happiest memories in a piece that I own. Maybe it was the dress she wore for a special occasion? Maybe it was the dress she wore when she had the first dance with the love of her life? Maybe it was the dress she wore on her honeymoon when she was consumed with happiness? I’ll never know but I promise to keep those dresses alive 💛”

Thank you, Tarlee!

How to create a 1940s-inspired look

“Key components for a 1940’s look for me are definitely a red lipstick and l always have to pin curl my hair, for me those curls complete the outfit ☺️ “